The presidential election results from Mississippi yesterday were no surprise. What was a surprise is the Republican endorsed candidates for judicial races did not fare very well across the state. The Mississippi Democratic Party took the position that these were non-partisan as the statute directs and tried to follow the spirit and intent of the law without offering formal endorsements in these races.

Nationwide I think everyone was somewhat surprised as to the outcome of the presidential election. As we speak now Clinton appears to have the popular vote majority and Trump of course the electoral college. Those figures should not be lost on anyone, lest they try to set aside the positions of a majority of the voters in this country.

It is clear voters wanted to see change. That was the same change message voters endorsed when they elected Barack Obama twice to the presidency. It is interesting to watch the link these same voters had in supporting Obama and then later supporting Trump in his bid for change. The base for change in America is still there and both political parties will certainly examine and learn from that in the coming days.

While the Republicans were successful in the presidential bid, I am sure the outcome was quite a surprise to many of them also. We all need to listen more to what people are saying and take it seriously. Hopefully there will be a political healing now and we can get away from the divisive tone that dominated this election cycle. – Bobby Moak, Chairman of MS Democratic Party